U.S. median for this major: $66,486.
College Scorecard field of study; 19 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 40% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,600.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,254. College Scorecard.
Western Illinois University Chemistry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemistry nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Western Illinois University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $6,941 | $30,402 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $8,787 | $38,487 | 1.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,062 | $52,832 | 1.6 years |
| $75–110k | $16,294 | $71,368 | 2.2 years |
| $110k+ | $19,701 | $86,290 | 2.7 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (31% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Chemistry graduates 4 years after graduating ($68,249) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,452 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Chemistry at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Chemistry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | $70,541 | $25,000 | $14,889 | 57% |
| 2 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $70,197 | $21,500 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 3 | Western Illinois University | $68,249 | $27,000 | $12,937 | 45% |
| 4 | Lewis University | $67,006 | $22,781 | $17,028 | 67% |
| 5 | Northern Illinois University | $65,611 | $23,023 | $13,391 | 49% |
| 6 | University of Illinois Chicago | $64,442 | $20,474 | $10,974 | 62% |
| 7 | Illinois State University | $62,220 | $24,875 | $19,398 | 65% |
39 more Illinois colleges offer Chemistry but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Chemistry graduates
Chemist
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +6.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs -0.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Data Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +34.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Western Illinois University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Western Illinois University
- Acceptance rate: 71% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 45% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $54,163
- Full cost breakdown · all 72 majors · overview
Related majors at Western Illinois University
- Biology$50,855
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science—
Western Illinois University Chemistry questions
How much do Western Illinois University Chemistry graduates earn?
Chemistry graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median $68,249 four years after graduating and $31,980 one year after. The U.S. median for Chemistry graduates across 209 colleges is $66,486.
How much debt do Western Illinois University Chemistry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Chemistry graduates of Western Illinois University is $27,000, about 40% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,600.
Is Western Illinois University a good school for Chemistry in Illinois?
On pay, Chemistry graduates of Western Illinois University earn $68,249 four years out, $1,243 above the median for the same major across 7 Illinois colleges ($67,006) and $1,763 above the U.S. median ($66,486). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Western Illinois University rank for Chemistry in Illinois?
Of 7 Illinois colleges reporting Chemistry graduate earnings, Western Illinois University ranks 3rd. The highest is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at $70,541.
What jobs do Chemistry graduates get?
A common career is chemist, with a median wage of $85,230 in Illinois and $91,240 nationally. Others include secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education and data scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Western Illinois University Chemistry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/western-illinois-university/majors/chemistry (College Scorecard and BLS data).